The Afghan army has begun training women special forces troops to carry out night raids against insurgents, breaking new ground in an ultra-conservative society and filling a vacuum left by departing international forces.

“If men can carry out this duty why not women?” said Lena Abdali, 23, one of the first women to join one of the special units in 2011. She wears a traditional headscarf under her helmet, but otherwise wears an army uniform and heavy flak jacket like the men.

Night raids are a divisive issue between Afghan president Hamid Karzai, who does not want foreign troops entering Afghan homes, and the US-led coalition that says the raids are essential to capture Taliban commanders.

Many Afghans, however, have complained that the house raids are culturally offensive. Having male troops search Afghan women is taboo.

The raids are currently conducted jointly by US and Afghan forces, but the job of female Afghan special forces soldiers is to round up women and children and get them to safety, while guarding against the potential dangers of female suicide bombers or militants disguised in women’s clothes.

The Afghan government and the coalition have stepped up training of Afghan special forces as international troops prepare to end their combat mission in 23 months. President Barack Obama is to withdraw about half of the 66,000 US troops now in Afghanistan within a year.